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You trust Democracy Now! to bring you the news stories and global headlines you won't find anywhere else. But did you know that Democracy Now! never accepts money from advertisers, corporate underwriters or governments? This allows us to maintain the editorial independence you rely on—but it also means we need your help. If everyone seeing this gave just $4 a month, it would more than cover our expenses for the entire year—and today a donor will DOUBLE your first month. Please do your part. It takes just a couple of minutes to make sure that Democracy Now! is there for you and everybody else. Thank you so much!-Amy Goodman

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Among those who came from around the country to participate in the first-ever March for Science in Washington, D.C., was Julia Olson, executive director and chief legal counsel for Our Children’s Trust, which has filed a landmark lawsuit on behalf of 21 young people all under the age of 21. The lawsuit argues the government has failed to take necessary action to curtail fossil fuel emissions. Democracy Now! spoke with Olson and some of her young clients.

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AMYGOODMAN: Hundreds of thousands came out around the world. Thousands came down in the downpour to the National Mall. Among those who came from around the country to participate was Julia Olson, executive director and chief legal counsel for Our Children’s Trust, which has filed a landmark lawsuit on behalf of 21 young people under the age of 21. The lawsuit alleges the government has failed to take necessary action to curtail fossil fuel emissions. I spoke to Olson and some of her young clients.

JULIAOLSON: I’m Julia Olson. I’m the executive director of Our Children’s Trust. And I’m a lawyer representing 21 young people who filed a lawsuit against the government. They’re now suing the Trump administration and the whole fossil fuel industry for violating their fundamental constitutional rights to a climate system that will protect them and their future.

AMYGOODMAN: So, but this—I remember, when we broadcast from Stanford University, you were suing the Obama administration.

JULIAOLSON: That’s right. And now we have a new president and a new administration that is denying the facts of climate change. And so, it’s a very interesting situation, where Obama admitted that these kids are facing a crisis, and now we have an administration working hand in hand with the industry to fight them.

AMYGOODMAN: And on what grounds are you suing?

JULIAOLSON: It’s a case under the U.S. Constitution. This is about the Fifth Amendment and these young people’s rights to life, liberty and property. It’s also their right to have their public trust resources, like their atmosphere and their oceans, protected for them and for their kids and grandkids.

AMYGOODMAN: So, why don’t you introduce us to some of the plaintiffs right here?

JULIAOLSON: So, this is Hazel. She’s one of our younger plaintiffs. And Hazel’s from Eugene, Oregon.

AMYGOODMAN: Hazel, can you talk about why you’re here today in your T-shirt in the pouring rain?

HAZELVANUMMERSEN: Well, I’m from Oregon. And in Oregon, all it does is rain. And it’s extremely important for us young people to stand up to our government, where the adults are doing nothing to prevent climate change and to stop the harmful effects of ocean acidification and sea level rising.

AMYGOODMAN: How old are you?

HAZELVANUMMERSEN: I’m 12 years old.

AMYGOODMAN: How did you get involved with this lawsuit?

HAZELVANUMMERSEN: Well, I went to a camp with Julia Olson. I met Kelsey Juliana, and I became very inspired by her and many of the other plaintiffs that are now on this case. And I believed in this cause. We have hope, and we have the power to change.

AMYGOODMAN: What do you think is getting in the way?

HAZELVANUMMERSEN: I think our president, currently, who I feel is one of the biggest climate deniers, with a pretty substantial control of power, and he does not believe that science is real. He thinks it’s a hoax made up by the Chinese, but we have science to prove him wrong. We will see him in court, and we will win.

AMYGOODMAN: Voices from the March for Science on Earth Day on Saturday in Washington, D.C. You can watch our entire 5-hour special broadcast at democracynow.org. And you can tune in next Saturday, April 29th, for our special broadcast of the People’s Climate March in Washington, D.C.

I want to dedicate today’s show to a beautiful 8-year-old boy named Elijah, Elijah Simpson-Sundell. He loved science. He was an inveterate shutterbug. He loved to take pictures. We recently spent the afternoon at the American Museum of Natural History. His dad, Brad Simpson, was a Democracy Now! producer and a historian. His mom, Kristin Sundell, a human rights activist. Elijah lost his brave struggle against cancer, against DIPG, this weekend, but he will forever be remembered.

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